Traffic chaos in Oshawa from GO train, highway work getting worse with more closures

A traffic chaos “nightmare” in Oshawa is prompting plenty of negative feedback on multiple closures related to Metrolinx’s GO train expansion and the simultaneous widening of Highway 401.

Oshawa councillor Brian Nicholson said his socials are being flooded with complaints from motorists trying to get around closures on Simcoe Street and other routes connecting people from downtown to Highway 401 and south Oshawa.

“Area residents are raising more and more complaints from increased traffic and reduced access due to the closures of Simcoe Street South and Cubert Street. Now they are facing a further closure of Park Road on July 13,” Nicholson said.

Oshawa drivers have been dealing with a two-year closure by Metrolinx of a portion of Simcoe Street for GO train expansion are now facing additional road closures in the area to accommodate Highway 401 widening that will create a traffic “nightmare” for the next 16 months or so, he said.

The province is replacing the highway overpass structures at Park Road and Cubert Street, forcing the closure of Cubert – an important secondary road connecting Bloor Street to the residential neighbourhood to the north – and a section of Park – a major connection to the GM Assembly plant – until the fall of 2027.

The Ministry of Transportation (MTO), in a recent email to Oshawa councillors, said the work was originally scheduled for next year but has moved up, with Cubert Street now closed starting and Park – from Bloor Street to College Avenue – to shut down to traffic beginning July 13. A weekend closure of Park Road also happened June 27-28.

“The nightmare continues and neither MTO nor Metrolinx has any concern about how their decisions impact our city and its residents,” Nicholson said last month.

Comments from his constituents on his Facebook page this past week continue in that vein:

• “Why are they allowed to close that many streets that run north and south at the same time? It takes forever now to get anywhere that’s crazy. Someone isn’t thinking too clearly.”
• “Simcoe Street closing for two years is ridiculous. They replaced the bridge on Simcoe close to Bloor and hardly restricted traffic. Why is the railway bridge taking so long?”
• “I can’t even get off my street majority of the time as they are doing at LEAST 70-80 k/hr down a residential 40 limit street.”
• “I am concerned that there will be an increase in unsafe traffic cutting through the neighbourhood streets. We have three schools right in this little area, one of which is all kids who walk to school, as well as daycares.”
• “We need traffic calming measures on both Laval and Hillside. We also need a crossing guard at Salisbury and Laval. Way too many people blowing that stop sign already and it’s only getting worse.”
• “The city/region can’t control the closures (but) has an obligation to take action wherever they can to ensure the safety of our kids. To not take any action is negligent and opens the city and region up to claims.”
• “Are any safety plans in place for community roads that are likely to be affected?”
• “Have they factored in GM employees getting to work?”

Nicholson said Oshawa and Durham Region need to “continue to pressure” Metrolinx and the transport ministry to “better coordinate their projects and end this chaos in our neighbourhoods. It is not a matter of annoyance or lack of convenience; it is clearly an issue of public safety. “

He said he is asking city staff to review the comments from residents and pay “particular attention” to pedestrian access and the need for safe school crossings and additional crossing guards during the closure.

Nicholson said city staff are working with the ministry to provide recommendations on a detour routes for vehicle and pedestrian traffic during the shutdown.

Another concurrent project happening in the area that is contributing to traffic headaches include the Wilson Road overpass replacement that has forced drivers to deal with the full closure of Wilson from Dieppe Avenue to Bloor Street until the late spring of 2027, also part of the highway widening program.

“While I appreciate staff reaching out to get more information on the provincial disruptions in our community, once again we are being told not asked,” he said. “It is my view that had we not asked our staff to reach out, neither MTO nor Metrolinx would have told us anything until the roads closed.

“I know that the closure decisions are out of the hands of the city, but we need to support area residents and press for solutions to the issues caused by the MTO and Metrolinx.”